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Vikings grab DE Crichton, RB McKinnon in 3rd round

By WTOP Staff

JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Sports Writer

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — When Toby Gerhart left for Jacksonville in free agency, the Minnesota Vikings were in the market for a new backup to Adrian Peterson.

They think they found their man in the third round in do-everything Jerick McKinnon from Georgia Southern.

The Vikings chose McKinnon with the 96th overall pick on Friday night and also added Oregon State defensive end Scott Crichton earlier in the round at No. 72.

McKinnon played quarterback and running back in Georgia Southern’s triple-option offense and also played some defensive back as well and wowed Vikings GM Rick Spielman at a pre-draft workout in which he performed drills for running back, defensive back and return man in what Spielman called “the most interesting workout I’ve ever seen.”

“He’s elusive, he has great speed in the open field,” Spielman said. “He kind of gives us that dynamic third-down type back that will give us a little spark when he comes in.”

Crichton had 22½ sacks in 38 career games for the Beavers and gives the Vikings another pass rusher in the pass-happy NFC North.

“That was my thing,” Crichton said. “I love to get after the quarterback.”

The Vikings chose UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr with the ninth pick and Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater with the 32nd pick in the first round on Thursday.

They addressed needs all over the roster in the first two days of the draft, including McKinnon, who could fill the void created when Peterson’s backup, Toby Gerhart, went to Jacksonville in free agency. McKinnon rushed for 1,050 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. He racked up 125 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries in Georgia Southern’s victory over Florida last season and said he can’t wait to learn from Peterson.

“Just the way he plays the game, with passion, with physicality, he’s one of the best in the game,” McKinnon said. “I think he’s the best in the game, as a matter of fact. It’s definitely a dream come true to be able to come in and watch him and learn from a guy like that.”

The Vikings did not have a choice in the second round after sending the 40th overall selection and a fourth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks to back into the first round on Thursday night for Bridgewater. Spielman made calls to see what it would take to move up from his two spots in the third round, but wasn’t able to swing a deal.

So the Vikings grabbed Crichton first as they look to fill the void left by the departures of veterans Jared Allen and Kevin Williams.

With defensive-minded head coach Mike Zimmer determined to upgrade the league’s 31st-ranked defense, the Vikings grabbed pass-rush specialist Barr in the first round and then Crichton, who is described as a relentless end that fits perfectly in a 4-3 defensive scheme.

“I can watch tape all day on this guy,” Spielman said. “His motor is non-stop. He’s constantly moving to the ball, very instinctual.”

Crichton left Oregon State after his junior season, a decision motivated by financial concerns for his family back home in Tacoma, Wash. His grandfather’s recent passing put greater stress on the family and so Crichton headed for the NFL to try to ease the burden.

“It was just crazy right now, full of emotions,” Crichton said. “My mom and dad are crying right now. I’m a little teary-eyed myself. It was just full of emotions, a lot of joy, too. This was a big step for me. I just can’t wait. I can’t wait to be in Minnesota right now.”

He comes to a Vikings defense that is loading up on the defensive line in a division where they see Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler and Matthew Stafford twice every season. They moved on from the aging Allen and Williams, who anchored the front four together for the previous six seasons.

Minnesota gave Everson Griffen $20 million guaranteed to be a featured pass rusher, signed veteran Brian Robison to an extension and signed Giants tackle Linval Joseph and Bears free agent Corey Wootton in free agency to revamp the unit. They then added Barr, who had 23½ sacks in two seasons on defense at UCLA, and Crichton, who set the school record for forced fumbles with 10.

“Me and Anthony, we’re just going to try to create havoc, create sacks,” Crichton said. “Just do what we do.”

___

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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